Answer: Their sacrifice while protecting cattle
The heroes in the Phad tradition are referred to as "cattle heroes" due to their sacrifice while protecting the community's cattle from robbers.
Phads are long, horizontal, cloth scrolls painted to honour folk deities of pastoral communities inhabiting the region around Bhilwara in Rajasthan. For such communities, safeguarding their livestock is the foremost concern. Such concerns purposely reflect in their myths, legends and worship patterns. Among their gods are defied cattle heroes, who are brave men who sacrificed their lives while protecting the community’s cattle from robbers. Designated by the broad term bhomia, these heroes are honoured, worshiped and remembered for their acts of martyrdom. Bhomias, such as Gogaji, Jejaji, Dev Narayan, Ramdevji and Pabhuji, have inspired widespread cult following among the communities of Rabaris, Gujjars, Meghwals, Regars and others. |
